Effects of 12 weeks of water aerobics on body composition in those affected by breast cancer

Exercise may prevent changes in body composition and provide an effective means of improving the side effects of treatment without causing lymphedema. Purpose Test the effectiveness of a 12-week water aerobics program on body composition and lymphedema risk in breast cancer survivors. Methods Body composition analysis was completed at weeks 0, 6, and 12 weeks. Results Ten females completed all testing. Baseline subject characteristics were as follows: age (59.40 ± 8.22 years), weight (169.91 ± 41.70 lbs), body fat percent (%BF) (40.15 ± 9.84%), body fat mass (BFM) (71.27 ± 31.50 lbs), lean body mass (LBM) (98.66 ± 13.24 lbs), skeletal muscle mass (SMM) (53.17 ± 8.09 lbs), intracellular water (ICW) (44.24 ± 6.18 lbs), and extracellular water (ECW) (28.91 ± 3.62 lbs). One-way ANOVA showed no statistically significant differences over time as determined for weight ( F (2.27) = 0.002, P = 0.96), %BF ( F (2.27) = 0.004, P = 0.97), BFM ( F (2.27) = 0.001, P = 0.97), LBM ( F (2.27) = 0.013, P = 0.95), SMM ( F (2.27) = 0.027, P = 0.91), ICW ( F (2.27) = 0.021, P = 0.93), and ECW ( F (2.27) = 0.01, P = 0.94) across the 12 weeks. Conclusions A water aerobics program for 12 weeks was not enough to observe changes in body composition nor did it increase the risk for lymphedema and may be a safe exercise method for breast cancer survivors.